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ἰχθύς

ichthýs

G2486 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A fish; primarily refers to an aquatic, gill-breathing vertebrate. The term encompasses both generic and specific references to fish, as an animal, a source of food, or as the object of activity (fishing, catching, preparing, consuming). In extended or figurative contexts (e.g., symbolic speech or early Christian literature outside the New Testament), it may take metaphorical significance, but in Koine sources it typically denotes an actual fish.

Semantic Range

fish (generic); fish as food; object of fishing or catching; rarely, figurative or symbolic in extrabiblical Christian literature

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain. The word is attested in ancient Greek since Homer and remains stable in form and sense into Koine. No related Indo-European root is securely established.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἰχθύς referred straightforwardly to any fish and was commonly used in references to diet, fishing, and sea life. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it continues to designate real, edible fish—such as in the feeding narratives (e.g., Mark 6:41; Luke 24:42)—or fish as objects of trade or miraculously caught (John 21:6, ἰχθύων πολλῶν, 'many fish'). The term was natively transparent in both everyday and literary Koine Greek. Later, in post-New Testament Christian tradition, ἰχθύς became a symbolic acronym representing 'Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υἱὸς Σωτήρ' ('Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior'), but this symbolic significance is not present in New Testament usage—where the term always refers to the animal. English translations as 'fish' are standard and fully expressive of its range in biblical contexts. Other Greek synonyms such as πέσκαρις (peskaris), used in specific or regional dialects, are far less common than ἰχθύς.

Translation Consistency

primary "fish" 20 occurrences

ἰχθύς refers normally to the animal or food item; the natural, common English rendering is “fish.” It covers the generic and food senses and matches the overwhelming majority of existing renderings, so using “fish” yields consistent, natural translations across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a fish:--fish.

Root Family

ἰχθύς (ichthys) — fish, aquatic animal

Root ἰχθύ- fish, aquatic animal

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2486-04 ἰχθύων ichthuon N GEN M PL fishes of fish of fish 7
G2486-01 ἰχθύας ichthuas N ACC M PL fish fish fish 7
G2486-03 ἰχθὺν ichthun N ACC M SG a fish a fish a fish 3
G2486-05 ἰχθύος ichthuos N GEN M SG of fish of a fish of a fish 2
G2486-02 ἰχθύες ichthues N NOM M PL fish fish fish 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2486-03 Matthew 7:10 ἰχθὺν ichthun N ACC M SG a fish a fish a fish
G2486-01 Matthew 14:17 ἰχθύας ichthuas N ACC M PL fish fish fish
G2486-01 Matthew 14:19 ἰχθύας ichthuas N ACC M PL fish fish fish
G2486-01 Matthew 15:36 ἰχθύας ichthuas N ACC M PL fish fish fish
G2486-03 Matthew 17:27 ἰχθὺν ichthun N ACC M SG fish a fish a fish
G2486-01 Mark 6:38 ἰχθύας ichthuas N ACC M PL fish fish fish
G2486-01 Mark 6:41 ἰχθύας ichthuas N ACC M PL fish fish fish
G2486-01 Mark 6:41 ἰχθύας ichthuas-2 N ACC M PL fish fish fish
G2486-04 Mark 6:43 ἰχθύων ichthuon N GEN M PL fishes of fish of fish
G2486-04 Luke 5:6 ἰχθύων ichthuon N GEN M PL of fishes of fish of fish
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